A police academy graduate was arrested on charges of domestic battery Sunday after he hit his girlfriend and sent her threatening text messages.
Carlston Watts, 20, got into a dispute with his girlfriend, Janine Merritt, 19, over their financial situation. The two live together and have a child, according to a Gainesville Police arrest report.
GPD spokeswoman Cpl. Angelina Valuri said Merritt called Watts a “deadbeat dad” and locked Watts out of their apartment, adding that Watts beat down the door, pushed Merritt against a wall and spit on her.
Merritt fled to her mother’s apartment a few doors down. Watts followed her and hit Merritt on her head, leaving a large lump, according to the report. Merritt spent the night at her mother’s apartment.
Throughout the night, Watts sent Merritt what she believed were threatening text messages, so she called the police the next morning, Valuri said.
Watts declined to comment, and Merritt did not return a call for one.
Police arrested Watts at 10:45 a.m. He told the officer she had every right to arrest him.
Watts received a certificate of completion from the Santa Fe College Institute of Public Safety Law Enforcement Degree program in December 2011, according to SFC General Counsel Patti Locascio.
Upon reading Watts his Miranda Rights, the arresting officer said Watts recited the elements of domestic battery, which he learned while in school, according to the arrest report. Watts then told the officer, “You have probable cause to arrest me.”
Contact Adrianna Paidas at apaidas@alligator.org.
